The 2026 model year has been bringing some shockers on the show floor of the New York International Auto Show. Arguably one of the biggest has been the unveiling of the 2026 Subaru Outback. The Outback, for many, has been the last bastion of the affordable wagon here in the United States. For some it has ties to the past of being their first car, or the car they bought their kids to go to college in. Now Subaru is trying something different with the Outback and snapping some peoples twigs. Lets take a look and see if the 2026 outback fits in with your perceptions, or if it’ll end up on the barby…. That’s an outback steakhouse joke in an outback vehicle review… you can’t say we don’t push the boundaries here at The Car Explorer!
Lets start under the hood. The 2026 Outback is powered by what Subaru calls a “revised” 2.5 liter Subaru Boxer engine, making around 180 horsepower and 178 pound feet of torque. It will be paired with a CVT transmission that will have an 8 speed manual shift mode. And of course, it cant be a Subaru without all wheel drive.
On the higher end Outback XT Models you’re getting a 2.4 liter turbocharged Subaru Boxer Engine which gets you 260 horsepower and 277 pound feet of torque, and the same CVT transmission.
Now that the powertrain is out of the way let’s talk about the Koala in the room. The look of the new outback. I’ll admit it, it was a bit of a shock to me when I say this unveiled. Subaru, like many automakers, is going for a boxier look with this car. But, it’s not just the boxy style that is different here. The car is more upright and has a much closer feeling to an SUV and a wagon, and the dimensions show. This car is longer (1.5in longer, 192 inches total), wider (1.5in wider, 75 inches) and taller (2 in taller, 68 inches total). The front grill is also more upright and less of a sloped design, along with the rear gate and lighting. The whole body of the vehicle feels more square and boxy and resembles a rectangle more than a sleek oval of the past Outbacks.
As for the interior, you’re getting a large redesign. Your physical tachometers are replaced with a full digital dash. Your infotainment is shifted up and tilted toward the driver rather than centered. A welcome change is the inclusion of physical dials and knobs for the climate control. While the 2025 Outback had some of this, it felt half integrated with the middle screen. Now it feels like the cars of old with a dedicated button and dial area not made of glossy plastic where you can control the climate. I LOVE this change and hope more manufacturers adopt this trend.
The 2026 steering wheel looks and feels identical to the 2025 version, with very similar button placement and handling. The shifter and cupholder center console are also updated in a new configuration. I haven’t been able to fully test these yet but one thing to note is that Subaru claims the door cupholders can retain a 32oz bottle which is perfect for those outdoor enthusiasts, or those office crawlers who drink water like a fiend.
The look and feel is incredible for the seats and touch points on this Outback. The initial version of this car presented at the auto show had this gorgeous two tone leather finish and screams premium and rugged. Sitting in the seats I felt like I had plenty of room and they were surprisingly comfy. I’ll have a full review of the interior feel once I have ample time to sit with one of these at a dealer.
Speaking of a dealer, when can you get your hands on this car? Subaru is saying late 2025. So if you were hoping to take one of these out for a hike this summer you sadly will be out of luck. I’ll be on the lookout for when my local dealers get one of these in so I can bring you a more in depth review as soon as possible.
What do you think of the new 2026 Subaru Outback? A great step forward or too much SUV? Let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any of our written articles.
